Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Boneshaker

In truth this is a book that I almost did not finish.  In fact I started in once, didn't like it at all, put it aside, read three other books and started it again.  Four chapters in I thought I really liked it, a few chapters later I considered quitting it once and for all.  But, I stayed with it; I wanted to find out what happened to thirteen year-old Natalie Minks, who was smart and interesting, and in an odd maze of a traveling medicine show.  In the end, I really liked the book, but thought that it could have been a little more child friendly and should probably be classified as a YA book.  I thought it was suspenseful, but the suspense didn't start until page 235.

Readers should know that this book can feel a little creepy and scary at times, nothing too freaky, but not a happy little story.

Rating: * at times and ***** at others; over all, ***
Posted by at
Labels: ,

6 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 19, 2010 at 8:43 PM

    Laura, don't you think the guy on the cover looks like Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons? =) -Sam B. from Cincinnati

    ReplyDelete
  2. LauraJuly 22, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    Sam B.,
    I had to do a google image search, but yes, he does! Are there any Mock Newbery books I haven't read yet that you think I should?

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 3, 2010 at 11:14 AM

    Hey Laura, I think you're doing great with your Mock Newbery - keep it up! I'm curious - do you remember some of the things you didn't like about this? I know you read it a long time ago... but if you remember what you didn't like, I would definitely be interested in hearing about it.

    Happy reading!
    -Sam B. from Cincinnati

    ReplyDelete
  4. LauraOctober 3, 2010 at 5:12 PM

    It took a really long time to get into because you didn't really connect with the characters and story at first. And it seemed like it was trying to be too many things,historical, scary, magical, about a family, and an adventure. Books that can do lots of things at once well are amazing like When You Reach Me and a Wrinkle in Time but if it is not done in a really amazing way then it just bogs down the story.... By the way I picked my last Mock Newbery for my group. You are lucky because you don't have to pick the final one until Jan, I want to read more to add to the list but, in order to get enough copies for all the kids (over 100) that I have, I have to pick now :(

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 3, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    Thanks for your thoughts on Boneshaker, Laura! I'm sorry, did you say you have over 100 kids signed up for your Mock Newbery?!?!? WOW. That is amazing! You should be very proud! =)
    -Sam B. from Cincinnati

    ReplyDelete
  6. LauraOctober 5, 2010 at 8:16 PM

    60 came to the first oriantation and 6 to the second. A few didn't make it to either. My mom typed that in because she was doing the counting of people. I am not sure how many, but I don't think it could possibly be that many. I do trust my mom's counting skills, so I really do hope that they don't all show up! They won't fit in the room!!!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)